10% off at Tandy Leather

Everything Else
1

Hi Forgers,

One of the things I excited about getting to try is leather. I just got a coupon offer from instructables for 10% off my first order. https://www.tandyleather.com/en/instructables-offer-code.html

My first project will be a cover for my field notes notebook. Leather travel wallet

I asking anyone with experience with leather, what do I need? Needles, thread, and leather?

Anyone care to make a starter kit for a new to leather and soon to be laser owner? Maybe others might be interested in a $25, $50, or $100 package? The offer expires September 10th.

9 Likes
2

You may also want to check out their outlet store here. They send out a newsletter weekly (I think) and some of the deals are pretty good. I bought a box of veg tanned leather remnants for about $20-$25 shipped a couple of months ago.

7 Likes
3

@morganstanfield - aka the “leather Woman” would be my go-to for advice.

4

For your first project just pick up some harness needles for hand stitching and some waxed thread. Tandy is okay to shop at when you’re a beginner. I don’t buy my leather from them though as it’s expensive for what you get and I don’t think their quality is all that great.

If you really want to dive into leatherworking I encourage you to go on http://leatherworker.net, a great leatherworking forum. TONS more useful info than I can give here.

I’m not convinced a laser is the greatest tool for cutting out parts yet. I worry about the edges burning and becoming unworkable for dyes and finishes. I plan on using mine to enhance tooling and making embossing plates.

Also, check out my work: https://blackthornleather.com/

5 Likes
5

Nice work! I don’t think you will have any competition from me.

Here is a basic set… https://www.tandyleather.com/en/product/basic-handstitching-set

or would you suggest just buying the needles and thread?

6

Ha ha. I just looked for harness needles on Amazon, Tandy’s own needles are cheaper there!

1 Like
7

@Andy_Mock’s advice is all good. Keep in mind that there are a lot of different kinds of leather and ways of working with it. For a notebook cover, vegetable tanned is great (and if you’re lasering, it’s necessary). How you sew it will depend on the thickness. I sew thin leathers on my not-expensive Singer Heavy Duty sewing machine, but thicker leathers should be punched and sewn by hand. Starting with a kit that includes everything is a great way to start, because it will typically have instructions for taking you through the whole process, so you can improvise properly in the future.

4 Likes
8

So do you think the GF will be able to do the “punching” on some of the thicker leather?

9

That’s not a bad starter kit. You’d definitely use the stitch groover to make perfectly straight stitches. The wheel probably not. I use something similar to this: https://www.tandyleather.com/en/product/diamond-hole-chisel-set when I hand sew. I have a Juki cylinder arm leather machine for other times.

3 Likes
10

By the way, waxed thread is a lot less expensive outside of Tandy too!

2 Likes
11

Thick vegetable tan leather works really well on a GF.

5 Likes
12

Will there be Proofgrade leather?

1 Like